Petrol and like lighter



0d. 31, 1933. J ARONQWITZ 1,932,652

PETROL AND LIKE LIGHTER Filed March 25, 1932 Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 25, 1932, Serial No. 601,093,

and in Great Britain May 11, 1931 Claims.

This invention relates to petrol and like lighters of the kind comprising a petrol or like container and a wheel co-acting with a flint and adapted to be operated by the thumb of the hand holding the lighter to ignite awick.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of lighter in which the operating parts are not liable to be readily damaged and which is convenient to operate and use.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lighter wherein an operating wheel, its associated flint and a wick holder are mounted within a V-shaped depressed portion of the top of the container which extends laterally and opens outwardly of the side walls adjacent one end thereof. The recess is preferably positioned so that a line bisecting the apex angle, which angle is preferably 45, is parallel with an end of the container. The operating wheel, which term designates a flint-engaging wheel or a separate thumb wheel associated therewith, is preferably mounted with its plane of rotation parallel with, and in close proximity to one face of the V recess, whereby it may be operated by a substantially arcuate movement of the thumb, with the base of the thumb as the centre of the arc.

The lighter is preferably provided with a curved flint housing tube, having its lower end located in the base of the container, the upper portion of the tube being arranged so thata flint carried therein will have its upper end in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel with which it engages.

A petrol or like lighter embodying the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing wherein:-

Figs. 1 and 2 are front and back elevations of the lighter respectively;

Fig. 3 is a plan thereof, and

Fig. 4 is a detail hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the drawing, a container 1 of substantially rectangular section is formed with a depressed portion 2 in the top thereof, the depressed portion, as shown, being V-shaped, with an apex angle of 45, the depressed portion being positioned so that a line bisecting this angle is parallel with the side 2 of the container. Mounted within this depressed portion is a knurled operating wheel 3, having its plane of rotation inclined to the horizontal and parallel with the face 7 of the depressed portion. The operating wheel 3 is secured to a flint-engaging or abrasive wheel 4, the said wheels being mounted on a common inclined pivot 6, which may be in the form of a rod, and which is conveniently secured in position by mounting one end in one side 7 of the depressed portion 2 and the other end in a lug 8, carried by a flint housing tube 9. The tube'9 has its lower end opening into the base 10 of the container, said end being closed by a screw plug 11. The upper portion of the tube which extends through the side 12 of the depressed portion 2, is curved so that the end of the flint will be in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel 4, against the periphery of which it is pressed by a spring 13 carried within the tube 9. A wick holder 14, ofany suitable form, is provided on '70 the side 12 of the recess 2, in suitable relation to the flint-engaging wheel 4.

The operating wheel 3, which is larger in diameter than the wheel 4, is arranged with a portion of its periphery protruding beyond the side of the container, and is preferably arranged with its under-surface in close relation to the side 12 of the depressed portion 2.

A hood 15 may be provided which is adapted to fit over the wick and flint-engaging wheel g 4. The hood is carried on an arm 16, the end of which is pivotally mounted in a slotted support 1'? secured to the container. The said end of the arm 16 is formed with three faces 18, one of which is normally engaged by a spring- 5 pressed plunger slidable within the slot of the support 17. The faces 18 are so positioned that the spring plunger coacts with the said faces and tends to retain the arm 16 in one of three positions, i. e., closed, vertical, or horizontally extended on the side of the support 17, remote from the wick.

Mounting the operating parts of the lighter in a depressed portion, according to this invention, will tend to protect these parts from damage. Furthermore these parts being practically flush with the surrounding surfaces of the container, the lighter will be more convenient to use, particularly in lighting a tobacco pipe. In this particular connection, the usual superstructure or projecting elements on the known forms of lighters are apt to cause considerable inconvenience.

I claim:-

1. A petrol lighter comprising an inflammable material container having a top provided with a V-shaped depressed portion adjacent one end of said container and extending laterally and opening outwardly of the side walls thereof, an operating wheel rotatably mounted within said allel with and in close proximity to one of the opening outwardly of the side walls thereof, said depressed portion having an apex angle of sub-r:

stantially 45, an operating wheel rotatably mounted within said depressed-portion with: its

plane of rotation parallel. withand in close proximity to one of the inclined surfaces there of, and a wick holder and ifilntholderl'projecting from the other inclined surface-of said depressed portion in operative relation with said operating wheel.

3; A petrol lighter comprising an inflammable material container having a top provided with l a V-shaped depressed-portionadjacent one end of said container and extending laterally and openingoutwardly ofthe side walls thereof, said depressed portion being so located'that a line bisecting its vape x angle will be substantially ..upperportion and a curved lower portion'extending downwardly through the interior of. the

container with its lower end opening through.

parallel with the endof the container, an operating wheel rotatably mounted within said depressed portion with its plane of rotation parinclined surfaces thereof, and a wick holder and a flint holder'projecting from the other inclined 4., A petrollighter comprising an inflammable plane vof rotation parallel with and in close proximity to one of the inclined surfaces thereof, and a wick holder and a flint holder projecting from the other inclined surface of said depressed portion in operative relation with said abrasive wheel. 5. A petrol lighter comprising an inflammable material container having a top provided with a V-shaped depressed portion adjacent one end .of saidcontainer, and extending laterally and opening outwardly of the side walls thereof, an

operating wheel including a flint abrasive wheel co-axial therewith and secured thereto rotatably amounted with the said depressed portion with its plane of rotation parallel with and in close proximity to one of the inclined surfaces there- ,of, and a wick holder and a flintholder projecting from the'other inclined surface of said-depressed portion in operative relation with said abrasive wheel, said flint holder including an the bottom thereof the said upper portion being so located that a flint therein will have its operative surface in a plane parallel to the axial rotation of the abrasive wheel with which it co-acts.

ISAAC JOSEPH ARONQW'ITZ. 

